Bishop Elias Lorenzo, OSB

“O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising, you discern my purpose from afar. You mark when I walk or lie down, all my ways lie open to you.” Ps. 139:1-3

“We should set aside moments of silence, moments of prayer, times in which, quieting noise and distractions, we recollect ourselves before God in simplicity of heart. This is a dimension of the Christian life that we particularly need to recover today.” Pope Leo XIV

“The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear; his justice reaches out to children’s children when they keep his covenant in truth, when they keep his will in their mind.” Ps. 103:17-18

“We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to his decree. Those whom he foreknew he predestined to share the image of his Son, that the Son might be the first-born of many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:28-29

Today we honor St. Mary Magdalene, a close disciple of Jesus and the first to witness the resurrection, according to the canonical gospels. She is called the “Apostle to the Apostles” by the Angelic Doctor St. Thomas Aquinas.

“When our desires are not satisfied, they grow stronger, and becoming stronger they take hold of their object. Holy desires likewise grow with anticipation, and if they do not grow they are not really desires.” Pope St. Gregory the Great

“Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you. In wisdom made perfect, instruct and admonish one another. Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns, and inspired songs.” Colossians 3:16

“Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens. God chose us in him before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Eph. 1:3-5

Today we honor St. Lawrence of Brindisi (d. 1619), a Capuchin friar who preached throughout the Counter-Reformation in seven languages. He was named imperious chaplain to Emperor Rudolph II and papal nuncio in Bavaria. Pope St. John XXIII named him Apostolic Doctor of the…

“My dear souls, let us recognize, I pray you, Christ’s infinite charity towards us in the institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In order that our love be a spiritual love, He wills a new heart, a new love, a new spirit for us.” St. Lawrence of Brindisi

“Whom have I in heaven but you, O Lord? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Ps.73:25-26

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.” Ps. 112:4-5

"What you see is the bread and the chalice; that is what your own eyes report to you. But what your faith obliges you to accept is that the bread is the body of Christ, and the chalice is the blood of Christ.“ St. Augustine

“O Lord, grant us salvation; O Lord, grant success. Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes. We bless you from the house of the Lord; the Lord God is our light.” Ps. 118:25-27a

"For the peace of Jerusalem pray: 'Peace be to your homes! May peace reign in your walls, in your palaces, peace!' For love of my family and friends I say: 'Peace upon you.” For love of the house of the Lord I will ask for your good." Ps. 122: 6-9

"May the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her Most Holy Son, every heavenly blessing." St. Pio of Pietrelcina

"Let us thank the Lord for his love, for the wonders he does for us. Let us offer a sacrifice of thanks and tell of his deeds with rejoicing." Ps. 107:21-22

"Who would dare refuse you honor or the glory due your name, O Lord? Since you alone are holy, all nations shall come and worship in your presence. Your mighty deeds are clearly seen." Rev. 15:4

Today we honor St. Camillus de Lellis (d. 1614), an Italian priest who, at an early age, developed a leg disease that remained for life. He dedicated his life to care for the sick and founded a Congregation to serve the sick, now working in 42 countries.

"if you commit a sin and take pleasure in it, the pleasure passes but the sin remains. But if you do something virtuous, even though you are tired, the tiredness passes but the virtue remains.” St. Camillus de Lellis